The Independent Filmmaker’s Guide to the New Hollywood: Success in the Era of Netflix and Streaming Video is author and filmmaker Gabriel Campisi’s third book about the business of filmmaking, this time focusing on the streaming storm that’s evolving the way we consume entertainment.
Tag: independent
Review: 18 TO PARTY Is A Charming And Witty Coming-Of-Age Comedy
18 to Party, written and directed by Jeffrey Roda, is a new coming-of-age film filled with nostalgia for the classic teen movies of the 1980’s. Thanks to a charming cast bringing the script’s interesting characters to life, this manages to be a thoughtful and infectiously fun rumination on the anxieties of childhood. The movie follows… Continue reading Review: 18 TO PARTY Is A Charming And Witty Coming-Of-Age Comedy
Review: WALLFLOWER Is A Fascinating Portrait Of Tragedy
Wallflower, co-written and directed by Jagger Gravning, is a new drama-thriller inspired by the true story of the 2006 Capitol Hill shooting. A gripping and timely portrait of how violence can take over a person, this film takes a unique approach to tragedy and creates a fascinating tale of humanity as a result. The approach… Continue reading Review: WALLFLOWER Is A Fascinating Portrait Of Tragedy
Review: DILILI IN PARIS Is A Unique And Whimsical Journey Through French History
This is a review of the dubbed version of the film. The newest film from filmmaker Michel Ocelot, Dilili in Paris, is a whimsical new animated adventure featuring fictional characters experiencing an alternate version of history. A meaningful parable filled with plenty of heart, this is a magical family film with which both kids and… Continue reading Review: DILILI IN PARIS Is A Unique And Whimsical Journey Through French History
Review: CUCK Is A Fascinating Look At A Dark Subculture
Cuck, co-written and directed by first-timer Rob Lambert, is a dark look in a subculture that is becoming more and more worrisome every day. Although the film’s attempts at satire aren’t always as effective as they should be, this is nonetheless a surprisingly harrowing tale about how a person can become radicalized. The movie follows… Continue reading Review: CUCK Is A Fascinating Look At A Dark Subculture
Review: SURPRISE ME! Is Shockingly Terrible In A Funny Way
Surprise Me!, written and directed by Nancy Goodman from her own novel, is a romantic comedy so cheesy that it almost feels like it is trying to be self-aware (even though it isn’t). Unfortunately, the only thing that is surprising about this film is the sheer amount of tropes that they were able to fit… Continue reading Review: SURPRISE ME! Is Shockingly Terrible In A Funny Way
Review: 18 TO PARTY Misses The Mark, But Shows Promise
If 18 To Party serves any purpose, it is to encapsulate an era that is long gone. A time of seemingly infinite freedom that has many roadblocks, which tend to make way for the most fun moments. For these “lulls” are when true characters emerge, and it is during these stretches of time that may seem… Continue reading Review: 18 TO PARTY Misses The Mark, But Shows Promise
Review: SISTER AIMEE Is A Hilarious Stranger Than Fiction Comedy
Sister Aimee, written and directed by Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann, is a new comedy inspired by a true story so bizarre that it is almost unbelievable. Witty, charming, and very well-made, this light but cynical comedy is exactly the reprieve that audiences need in this time in which everything seems to be taking itself… Continue reading Review: SISTER AIMEE Is A Hilarious Stranger Than Fiction Comedy
Review: EMPATHY, INC. Is Virtually Great
Empathy, Inc. is an ambitious new indie sci-fi movie that takes advantage of an excellent premise to make an effective thriller. Admirably old-school, yet addressing relevant and timely themes, this is a refreshing surprise showing that there is still potential in the genre. The film tells the story of an investor in a VR company… Continue reading Review: EMPATHY, INC. Is Virtually Great
Review: SEEDS Had Plenty Of Room To Grow
Seeds, directed by Owen Long, is a new psychological horror-thriller that hopes to mess with the mind of the audience. Although there are some interesting ideas at play, the film ultimately goes too far with the weird and uncomfortable elements and not far enough with the horror for it to be truly effective. The movie… Continue reading Review: SEEDS Had Plenty Of Room To Grow
Review: TRAUMA IS A TIME MACHINE Is A Personal And Topical Film
Trauma is a Time Machine, written and directed by Angelica Zollo, is a personal and deeply emotional film showing how a person can be affected by a traumatic experience. Adapted from her short of the same name, this story may have been better fit to a smaller runtime but is mostly effective nonetheless. The movie… Continue reading Review: TRAUMA IS A TIME MACHINE Is A Personal And Topical Film
Review: AUGGIE Is A Wish-Fulfillment Romance That’s Creepy In A Bad Way
Auggie, co-written and directed by Matt Kane, is a new sci-fi drama that feels like something that would have been released years ago. A well-meaning but creepy exercise in wish fulfillment, the film serves as a solid starring vehicle for veteran character actor Richard Kind, but precious little else. The film tells the story of… Continue reading Review: AUGGIE Is A Wish-Fulfillment Romance That’s Creepy In A Bad Way
Review: LORO Is A Meandering But Stylish Crime Dramedy
Loro, the newest film from Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty), is a sprawling true-crime dramedy, but of course with Sorrentino’s stylish approach. Even though this may be Sorrentino’s weakest effort yet, a lesser Sorrentino movie is still far more interesting and well-made than a majority of films that come out in a given… Continue reading Review: LORO Is A Meandering But Stylish Crime Dramedy
Review: ZEROVILLE Is An Ambitious But Pretentious Love Letter To Hollywood
Zeroville, directed by James Franco from the novel by Steve Erickson, is yet another love-letter to Hollywood from the actor-filmmaker. However, unlike the more effective The Disaster Artist, Franco’s newest gets too caught up in the nostalgia of yesteryear to be much more than passive entertainment. The film follows a young actor who arrives in… Continue reading Review: ZEROVILLE Is An Ambitious But Pretentious Love Letter To Hollywood
Review: AMERICAN DREAMER Has Its Head In The Clouds
American Dreamer, co-written and directed by Daniel Forte, is a new thriller featuring Jim Gaffigan’s latest effort as a dramatic actor. Thanks to Gaffigan’s committed performance, this film is able to overcome a problematic script to be a passable watch. The story follows a divorced rideshare driver as he decides to kidnap the infant child… Continue reading Review: AMERICAN DREAMER Has Its Head In The Clouds
Review: TATTOO OF REVENGE Isn’t Permanent
Tattoo of Revenge, directed by Julián Hernández, is a new Mexican revenge thriller that takes a female-empowerment approach similar to the Millennium Series (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Hernández has an obvious vision with the film, but vision alone does not amount to a satisfying thriller. The movie follows a vigilante who seduces, tortures,… Continue reading Review: TATTOO OF REVENGE Isn’t Permanent
Review: CANDY CORN Will Give You A Cavity Of The Mind
Candy Corn, written and directed by Josh Hasty, is a new horror movie showing an obvious admiration for the classics of the genre. However, Hasty unfortunately seems to get too caught up in paying homage to the greats, preventing his film from ever standing on its own. The movie follows a group of bullies who,… Continue reading Review: CANDY CORN Will Give You A Cavity Of The Mind
Interview: POPAXIOM Talks FREAKS with Amanda Crew and Lexy Kolker
A horror-thriller with superhero influences, Freaks comes to theaters on September 13. The film tells the story of a young girl (Lexy Kolker), who is trapped by her father (Emile Hirsch) in their house in an attempt to protect her, all the while experiencing visions of a mysterious woman (Amanda Crew) in her closet. You… Continue reading Interview: POPAXIOM Talks FREAKS with Amanda Crew and Lexy Kolker
Review: IMPRISONED Locks Away Its Characters From Your Sympathy
A well-meaning but woefully misguided political statement, Imprisoned, directed by Paul Kampf, fails to be particularly compelling as a drama, thriller, or romance. Elevated by solid performances, but otherwise entirely forgettable, this film is clumsily-made and unevenly-written. The movie follows a recently released ex-con trying to start anew in his life with his true love… Continue reading Review: IMPRISONED Locks Away Its Characters From Your Sympathy
Review: CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? Is A Painfully Dull Rom-Com
Can You Keep a Secret?, based on the novel of the same name by Sophie Kinsella, is a joyless new romantic comedy that is more generic and trope-laden than any other to come out this year. Because of a ridiculous plot, painfully unfunny humor, and uncommitted performances from the cast, this film is frequently excruciating… Continue reading Review: CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? Is A Painfully Dull Rom-Com